Registered Nurse - Critical Care (Medical Intensive Care Unit)

About the role

The Medical Intensive Care Unit/Cardiac Care Unit (MICU/CCU) is an 18-bed intensive care unit specializing predominantly in cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, and neurological disorders. Duties include providing direct care for acutely/critically ill patients, establishing a therapeutic relationship, engaging patients, families, and other caregivers, participating in unit-based educational activities, applying evidence-based practice/research to patient care, and demonstrating positive communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care for acutely/critically ill patients who are at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health problems.
• Utilize assessment skills and blend data from a variety of invasive/noninvasive monitoring technology to provide high-intensity care and vigilance.
• Establish a therapeutic relationship with patients to help them attain, maintain, or regain optimal function through assessment and treatment.
• Incorporate patient preferences into shared care delivery decisions.
• Engage patients, families, and other caregivers to incorporate knowledge, values, and beliefs into care planning without judgment or discrimination.
• Participate in unit-based educational activities and continuing education requirements.
• Demonstrate positive, effective communication skills and professional behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers.
• Apply evidence-based practice/research to patient care.
• Participate in unit-based activities to improve and deliver cost-effective patient care.
• Incorporate patient preferences into shared care delivery decisions.

Requirements

• English Language Proficiency: No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Education: Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by ACEN or CCNE.
• Licensure: Current full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Exception: Candidates who do not possess the required licensure may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case basis).

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by ACEN or CCNE.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements but do not possess the required licensure may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case basis).

Skills

• Knowledge of specific unit-level performance improvement activities.
• Positive, effective communication skills.
• Professional behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork.
• Evidence-based practice/research.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential for performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance.
• VA health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Pay

Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards.

Schedule

No set days - based on unit needs - weekends and holidays in rotation. Compressed/Flexible: Available. Telework: Not authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Contact Information

For more information on the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.